Portable Electronic Device Retention System

ABSTRACT

An exemplary magnetic portable electronic device retention system includes a device holder and mounting base. The device holder includes a mating surface with one or more magnets disposed within one or more recesses. The mounting base includes a magnetic portion. The device holder and mounting base are held together by the magnetic attractive force between the magnets and magnetic portion. The attractive force is strong enough to hold the base and holder together during rigorous physical activity, while still being capable of unencumbered manual separation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is generally applicable to portable electronic device retention systems, such as mobile phone cases and portable electronic device mounting devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to portable electronic device retention systems, such as mobile phone cases and portable electronic device mounting devices, which include a magnetic electronic device retention feature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable electronic device retention systems are designed to enclose all or a portion of a portable electronic device and attach to various surfaces, articles or objects. For example, a retention system may allow a user of a portable electronic device to mount their device on a car dash board. Other retention systems provide an arm band or belt to allow the user to wear a portable device on their person. Still other retention systems provide a base to support a portable device above a surface to provide an improved viewing angle of the screen of the device, or to provide a stable platform for a camera of the device to take a photo or video.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of magnetic portable electronic device retention systems, portable electronic device holders, bases therefore and components thereof are disclosed herein.

In one exemplary embodiment, a magnetic portable electronic device retention system comprises a device holder and a mounting base. The device holder includes a device enclosure, a mating surface, and one or more magnets disposed within or mounted to the mating surface. The mounting base includes a cavity for receiving the mating surface of the device holder. The device holder is retained in the mounting base as a result of magnetic attraction between the mounting base and device holder.

In additional exemplary embodiment, a magnetic portable electronic device retention system comprises a device holder and a mounting base. The mounting base includes one or more magnets disposed within or mounted to a surface of the mounting base. The mounting base includes a cavity for receiving a mating surface or other portion of the device holder. The device holder is retained in the mounting base as a result of magnetic attraction between the mounting base and device holder.

Various objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention, when read in light of the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the instant application, illustrate embodiments exemplifying the general inventive concepts of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the general inventive concepts. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain certain principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of magnetic device holder and base;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embodiment of the device holder of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the embodiment of the device holder of FIG. 1. detailed description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The general inventive concepts of the present invention will now be described with occasional reference to specific embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Also, while the detailed exemplary embodiments described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings relate to portable electronic device retention systems described as being useful in connection with mobile phones, it should be understood that the portable electronic device retention systems described herein may be used in connection with any portable electronic device, such as, for example, cameras, tablet computers, digital music players, such as MP3 players, etc.

Except as otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is for describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description of the invention, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities, properties, and so forth as used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical properties set forth in the following specification are approximations that may vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained in embodiments of the present invention. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values to the extent that such are set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical values, however, inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from error found in their respective measurements.

The terms “connecting,” “retention,” “retaining,” “securing,” “coupling,” and “mounting” as used herein, include but are not limited to affixing, joining, attaching, fixing, fastening, or placing in contact two or more components, elements, assemblies, portions or parts. Connecting, securing, coupling and mounting two or more components, etc., can be direct or indirect such as through the use of one or more intermediary components and may be intermittent or continuous. The term “magnetic” as used herein, refers to any material that is attracted to a magnet, such as a ferromagnetic material.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an exemplary embodiment of a magnetic portable electronic device retention system 100 is illustrated. The retention system 100 includes a portable electronic device 150, a device holder 110, and a base 120. The device holder 110 is removably attached to the base 120 by one or more magnets 140 that are located in or mounted to the device holder 110. In various exemplary embodiments, the base 120 includes a mounting component 130 to attach the base 120 to the person of a user or to another object or to support the base 120 on a surface.

The portable electronic device 150 includes various features such as a user facing camera 152, a rear facing camera 154, and various other features 156 disposed on the periphery of device 150, such as buttons, switches, speaker ports, audio connections, data connections, power connections, cameras, or the like. The portable electronic device 150 may be any portable electronic device, such as a cellular telephone, a “smart” phone, a still camera, a video camera, an audio recorder, or the like.

In the illustrated embodiment, the device holder 110 includes a device enclosure 112, which includes one or more magnets 140. In the illustrated embodiment, the device enclosure 112 includes a rear surface 111 and a rim 113. The rear surface 111 of the enclosure 112 includes a mating portion 114 that extends rearward from the rear surface 111 to interface with the base 120. The mating portion 114 may comprise one or more protrusions from the rear surface 111. The enclosure rim 113 is disposed around the periphery of the enclosure 112 and forms a device cavity 115. The device cavity 115 is configured to hold device 150 securely within the device holder 110 such that the device 150 does not fall out of the device holder 110. The device cavity 115 of the device holder is adapted to retain the device 150 within the device holder 110 even when the device holder 110 it is attached to the arm of a user who is performing rigorous athletic activities, such as running, jumping, playing a sport, or the like. The device holder 110 also provides protection for the device 150 from drops or other sources of impact damage. It should be understood that in additional embodiments, the device holder 110 may have any size, shape and configuration suitable for retaining an electronic device.

In the illustrated embodiment, the enclosure rim 113 includes one or more openings 118 and the rear surface 111 includes one or more openings 119. The openings 118, 119 provide the user with access to various features of the device 150 while it is inserted into the device cavity 115. For example, the opening 119 in the rear surface 111 allows the user to take pictures with a camera 154 of the device 150 while the device 150 is disposed within the cavity 115 of the device holder 110 and the opening 118 in the rim 113 allows a user to access features 156 (e.g., buttons, switches, speaker ports, audio connections, data connections, power connections, etc.) disposed on the periphery of device 150. It should be understood that any variety of openings may be provided in various embodiments of the device holder 110. For example, any number of openings having various sizes, shapes and configurations may be provided in additional embodiments.

In the illustrated embodiment, the mating surface 114 includes one or more magnet cavities 116 that are configured to receive one or more magnets 140. In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more magnets 140 are mounted in cavities 116. However, in additional embodiments, the one or more magnets may be mounted on, located within, or attached to the mating surface 114 in any suitable manner. In the illustrated embodiment, an outer surface 142 of each magnet 140 is disposed below the mating surface 114 to protect the magnets 140 from damage caused by frequent contact with the base 120 or contact with the ground or another hard surface if the device holder 110 is dropped. In various exemplary embodiments, the magnets 140 may be disposed various distances below the mating surface 114. For example, in various embodiments, the magnets 140 may be disposed below the mating surface 114 between about 0.1 millimeters to about 0.5 millimeters, but can be located at various different depths in additional embodiments.

The magnets 140 are held in place within the cavities 116 by any means, such as a press fit, adhesive connection, threaded connection, snap fit, or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more magnets 140 are rare-earth magnets, such as neodymium magnets, or the like. However, any suitable magnet(s) may be utilized in additional embodiments. It should be understood that in additional embodiments, any number, size, shape and configuration of magnets may be included. For example the mating surface 114 may include one magnet that covers all or a portion of the mating surface. In addition, the magnets 140 may be mounted within the mating surface 114 in additional embodiments and covered by material to conceal the magnets.

The components of the enclosure 112 (which includes the rear surface 111, the enclosure rim 113, and the mating surface 114) may be formed of a single piece of suitable material, including, but not limited to, silicone, rubber, plastic, metal, or wood. The rear surface 111, the enclosure rim 113, and the mating surface 114 may alternatively be formed of different materials, or may be formed of the same material in multiple pieces that are assembled by any means, such as with an adhesive, fasteners, or the like. In one particular embodiment, the enclosure rim 113 is formed from a flexible material and the rear and mating surfaces 111, 114 are formed of a rigid material. The enclosure rim 113 may also be formed of a material and split into multiple pieces that snap together to enclose the device 150.

The base 120 of the retention system 110 includes a mating plate 122. In the illustrated embodiment, the mating plate 122 is surrounded by a raised mating rim 124, forming a mating cavity 125. The mating cavity 125 is configured to receive the mating surface 114 of the device holder 110. When the device holder 110 is attached to the base 120, the mating surface 114 is in direct contact with the mating plate 122. The mating cavity 125 is shaped and configured to receive the mating surface 114 and prevent the device holder 110 from moving relative to the base 120 and thus becoming detached from the base 120. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the mating cavity 125 is slightly larger than the mating surface 114 so as to still allow the device holder 110 to move slightly relative to the base 120 when assembled to the base 120 to facilitate manual separation of the holder 110 from the base 120. However, in additional embodiments the mating cavity 125 may be dimensioned to receive the mating surface 114 and prevent the device holder 110 from moving relative to the base 120 when assembled to the base 120. The mating plate 122 may be formed of any magnetic or ferromagnetic material, such as iron, nickel, cobalt, or the like, to facilitate magnetic attraction of the one or more magnets 140 of device holder 110.

In exemplary additional embodiments, the device holder 110 may include a mating plate or surface surrounded by a raised rim that forms a mating cavity. In such embodiments, the mating cavity of the device holder 110 is shaped and configured to receive a mating surface or other portion of the device base 120 and prevent the device base 120 from moving relative to the device holder 110 and thus becoming detached from the device holder 110. In such embodiments, the mating cavity 125 of the device holder 110 may be slightly larger than the mating surface of the device base 120 so as to still allow the device base 120 and device holder 110 to move relative to one another when magnetically adhered to one another to facilitate manual separation of the base 120 from the holder 110.

The base support 130 is attached to the rear of the base 120 at an attachment location 132 with any attachment means, such as with adhesive, fasteners, rivets, or the like. The base support 130 may also be formed as an integral part of the base 120. The base support 130 may be any kind of support, such as a tri-pod, a threaded post, an arm band, a belt, a clip, a clamp, or the like that facilitates the mounting or attaching of the device holder 110 to an object or surface.

The device holder 110 is attached to the base 120 by means of magnetic forces 144 generated by the one or more magnets 140 when they are placed in proximity to magnetic mating plate 122. The use of magnets 140 to generate the attractive force 144 that holds device holder 110 and base 120 together allows a user to manually remove the device holder 110 and device 150 from the base 120 to interact with the device 150 without the need for tools and without disassembling a fastener connection, or the like. The distance between the mating surface 114 and outer surface 142 of the one or more magnets 140 can be adjusted to change the magnitude of the attractive force 144 between the mating plate 122 and the one or more magnets 140; an increased distance reduces the attractive force 144, while reducing the distance increases the attractive force 144.

In one particular embodiment, the magnets 140 are positioned in the four corners of a generally rectangular mating surface 114. A fifth magnet cavity 116 is positioned generally in the center of mating surface 114. In this configuration, the attractive force 144 generated by the magnets 140 is evenly distributed throughout the interface between the holder 110 and base 120, preventing the two from coming apart during rigorous athletic activity.

While the one or magnets 140 are mounted within the mating plate 122 of the device holder 110 in the illustrated embodiment, it should be understood that in additional exemplary embodiments the one or more magnets 140 may be mounted within the base 120. In such embodiments that include magnets mounted within the base 120, one or more pieces of magnetic material are included within the device holder 110 so that the holder 110 can be magnetically attached to the base 120.

The device holder 110 may also be attached to any other magnetic or magnetic surface by way of the magnetic attraction of magnets 140 to the surface. In this way, device holder 110 may be attached to magnetic part of a piece of workout equipment, allowing a user to take photos or videos of himself or herself using the devices camera 152 without having to hold the device 150 in their hand. This feature is especially desirable for those users who want to monitor their form while exercising to improve their technique and thereby prevent injury.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. For example, where components are releasable or removably connected or attached together, any type of releasable connection may be suitable including for example, locking connections, fastened connections, tongue and groove connections, etc. Still further, component geometries, shapes, and dimensions can be modified without changing the overall role or function of the components. Therefore, the inventive concept, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's general inventive concept.

While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventions may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventions. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions—such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices and components, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on—may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present inventions even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention, the inventions instead being set forth in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable electronic device retention system comprising: a device holder comprising a mating surface and one or more magnets; and a mounting base having a magnetic portion.
 2. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 1, wherein the device holder comprises one or more recesses defined within the mating surface, and wherein each of the one or more magnets is disposed within a recess.
 3. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 2, wherein the recesses are located in four corners of the mating surface, and wherein the device holder comprises at least four magnets mounted within the recesses defined within the mating surface.
 4. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 3 further comprising a recess located in the center of the mating surface, and wherein the device holder comprises at least five magnets mounted within the recesses defined within the mating surface.
 5. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 2, wherein the magnets are disposed below an upper surface of the mating surface.
 6. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 5, wherein the magnets are disposed between about 0.1 millimeters to about 0.5 millimeters below the upper surface of the mating surface.
 7. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 1, wherein the mounting base comprises a magnetic plate surrounded by a rim configured to receive the mating surface of the device holder.
 8. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 7, further comprising a gap between the rim of the mounting base and an outer periphery of the mating surface of the device holder when the device holder is attached to the mounting base.
 9. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 8, wherein the gap surrounds the mating surface.
 10. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 1, further comprising a base support attached to the mounting base at an attachment location.
 11. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 10, wherein the base support comprises an arm band.
 12. A portable electronic device retention system comprising: a device holder; a mounting base comprising a mating surface and one or more magnets.
 13. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 12, wherein the mounting base comprises one or more recesses defined within the mating surface, and wherein each of the one or more magnets is disposed within a recess.
 14. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 12, wherein the recesses are located in four corners of the mating surface, and wherein the mounting base comprises at least four magnets mounted within the recesses defined within the mating surface.
 15. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 14 further comprising a recess located in the center of the mating surface, and wherein the mounting base comprises at least five magnets mounted within the recesses defined within the mating surface.
 16. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 13, wherein the magnets are disposed below an upper surface of the mating surface.
 17. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 16, wherein the magnets are disposed between about 0.1 millimeters to about 0.5 millimeters below the upper surface of the mating surface.
 18. A portable electronic device retention system comprising: a device holder comprising: a sidewall forming a recess for retaining an electronic device; one or more openings in the sidewall for providing access to the electronic device; a mating surface disposed on a back surface of the device holder; a plurality of recesses defined within the mating surface; and a plurality of magnets disposed within the plurality of recesses; and a mounting base comprising: a magnetic plate; and a rim surrounding the magnetic plate that defines a mating receptacle configured to receive the mating surface of the device holder.
 19. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 18, wherein the mating surface extends to the sidewall of the device holder. The portable electronic device retention system of claim 18, wherein the magnets are disposed between about 0.1 millimeters to about 0.5 millimeters below an upper surface of the mating surface. 